Three Big 12 standouts - Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid of Kansas and Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart led four Big 12 players chosen in the 2014 NBA Draft. Wiggins was taken No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers- the second time in Big 12 history a league player was selected first (Blake Griffin, OU, 2009). Wiggins’ teammate Embiid followed at No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers, while Smart was the No. 6 choice by the Boston Celtics.

Wiggins is the second No. 1 overall pick in Kansas history (Danny Manning, 1988). Wiggins and Embiid mark the 17th and 18th draftees of the Bill Self era. It is also the fifth consecutive year that multiple Jayhawks have been drafted. Smart’s draft spot is the highest in Oklahoma State history, matching Bryant Reeves at No. 6 (Vancouver Grizzlies) in the 1995 draft.

This year is just the fifth time since 1985 that one conference has boasted three of the top six choices overall. It was also the ninth straight year that at least one Big 12 athlete has been chosen among the top seven picks in the draft. Since 2006, a total of 12 conference student-athletes have been selected in the top 10 with 20 chosen in the league’s short 18-year history.

Overall, 49 players have been drafted in the last seven years. This year’s draft is the 17th time in 18 seasons the Big 12 has had at least one first-round choice. A total of 96 players from the Big 12 have been selected since the first season in 1996-97.

KU has now had a total of 27 players chosen since the Big 12 began play, more than any other league school. The Texas Longhorns are next among current members with 16 draftees, followed by Iowa State and Oklahoma State with eight each. Oklahoma (7), Baylor (7), Texas Tech (3) and Kansas State (2) round out the Big 12 team draft totals.